TIMBER COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 89, 11 May 1909, Page 2

TIMBER COMMISSION.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Monday. At the Timber Commission to-day, Herman Coupe, manager of the Taupo Totara Sawmiliing Co., said lie did not think good would result from an export duty on kauri and white pine. ll«'held that the timber industry required protection. An import tax on foreign timber of Is per hundred feet would only increase the cost of a cottage by £S. Tho conservation of bush in the face of advancing settlement was impossible. If the import duty on pine were not increased, many sawmills would be closed. Competition would be keener and prices would advance. There shou'.d be no flee importation at all, not oven of logs.

Auckland. Last Night. At tile sitting of the Timber Commission here, to-day, l)avid (Joldie, timber merchant, of Auckland, stated that iie did not consider that the present price or timber was excassive when the heavv expenses and risks of the millers were 1 taken into account. It was absurd to ■say the present slump i„ the building i trade was due to the high price of tirn-' ■ber. It was folly to talk of conservlmr, the kauri, and he ridiculed the idea of placing an export duty on it. It would not save the kauri,'as thousands of pounds worth were being destroyed every year liv lire. The price obtained on exported timber enabled the millers to pay the existing high rate of wages. If an export duty were imposed millers would have to reduce wages or stop milling to a large extent. 11,. did not think the import duty on foreign timber should be raised. «s Oregon was now to some extent taking the place of medium kauri, which was now hard to procure. IJe ,| Pn j,,,i t ] mfc tllel . c combine in the trade .to keep the price wI.M " P ; , hP ' V ,m< ' "" l,ssl >™ti»n which agreed to a schedule of prices, but this had not been adhered to bv all the members. J